"Ken Hilson" > wrote in message
...
> 2002 S10 4.3 with about 38k on it.
> Noticed last night that oil pressure gauge was reading lower than normal.
> Midscale is 275 kpa (39 PSI) and it normally runs about there or higher
when
> hot at highway speed Last night it was down about 1/4 scale at speed which
> it normally only would go when at idle stopped. Crawled under and noticed
> small amount of oil on the filter but no dripping.
> Difficult to check oil level when hot and with flashlight so added about
3/4
> quart and restarted. No real change, so left it until morning. Checked oil
> level and it was now actually a bit above max on dip stick so wasn't
really
> short of oil. Started it up and it read 2 bars above midpoint ( there are
4
> bars per quarter of gauge range which is pretty normal. Took short drive
to
> store and back. By the time I was back home the reading had gone low
again.
> Gauge needle moved more with rev change than last night but still seemed
to
> go to 1/4 point above idle. Read somewhere that senders can go and oil
will
> be in plug. Wonder if that might be the source of oil on filter, assuming
> sender is near filter base. Is this a common problem on these motors?
Could
> I be losing pressure hot or maybe sender is now measuring wrong when hot.
>
>

Before getting worried put a mechanical oil pressure guage on it
and see what the pressure really is and if it's cause for concern.

Ted